Patents by Inventor Michael C. WILLMOT

Michael C. WILLMOT has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230028367
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine (10) for an aircraft comprises an engine core (11) comprising a turbine (19), a compressor (14), a core shaft (26), and a core exhaust nozzle (20), the core exhaust nozzle (20) having a core exhaust nozzle pressure ratio calculated using total pressure at the core nozzle exit (56); a fan (23) comprising a plurality of fan blades; and a nacelle (21) surrounding the fan (23) and the engine core (11) and defining a bypass duct (22), the bypass duct (22) comprising a bypass exhaust nozzle (18), the bypass exhaust nozzle (18) having a bypass exhaust nozzle pressure ratio calculated using total pressure at the bypass nozzle exit; wherein a bypass to core ratio of: bypass ? exhaust ? nozzle ? pressure ? ratio core ? exhaust ? nozzle ? pressure ? ratio is configured to be in the range from 1.1 to 1.4 under aircraft cruise conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard G STRETTON, Michael C WILLMOT, Nicholas GRECH
  • Patent number: 11408428
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine core including a turbine, compressor, and core shaft connecting turbine to compressor; a fan located upstream of the engine core and including a plurality of fan blades each having a leading and trailing edge. The turbine includes a lowest pressure turbine stage having a row of rotor blades, each rotor blades extending radially and having a leading and trailing edge. The engine has a fan tip axis that joins a radially outer tip of the leading edge of a fan blade and the radially outer tip of the trailing edge of a rotor blade of the lowest pressure stage. The fan tip axis lies in a longitudinal plane which contains a centreline of engine. A fan axis angle is defined as the angle between fan tip axis and centreline, and is in a range between 10 and 20 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard G Stretton, Michael C Willmot
  • Patent number: 11339713
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine core including a turbine, a compressor, a core shaft, and a core exhaust nozzle, the core exhaust nozzle having a core exhaust nozzle pressure ratio calculated using total pressure at the core nozzle exit; a fan including a plurality of fan blades; and a nacelle surrounding the fan and the engine core and defining a bypass duct, the bypass duct including a bypass exhaust nozzle, the bypass exhaust nozzle having a bypass exhaust nozzle pressure ratio calculated using total pressure at the bypass nozzle exit; wherein a bypass to core ratio of: bypass ? ? exhaust ? ? nozzle ? ? pressure ? ? ratio core ? ? exhaust ? ? nozzle ? ? pressure ? ? ratio is configured to be in the range from 1.1 to 2.0 under aircraft cruise conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard G Stretton, Michael C Willmot, Nicholas Grech
  • Patent number: 11293346
    Abstract: There is provided an air intake system for providing air to a tip clearance control system. The air intake system comprises a ram-air intake having a scoop portion and a body portion. The body portion of the ram-air intake houses a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Michael I. Elliott, Peter Banister, Michael C. Willmot, Silvia Fernandez Arranz
  • Publication number: 20220056916
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine core having a core length and comprising a turbine, a compressor, and a core shaft connecting the turbine to the compressor, the turbine comprising a lowest pressure rotor stage, the turbine having a turbine diameter at the lowest pressure rotor stage; and a fan located upstream of the engine core, the fan comprising a plurality of fan blades extending from a hub, the hub and fan blades together defining a fan face having a fan face area and a fan tip radius, wherein a ratio of the fan tip radius to the turbine diameter at the lowest pressure rotor stage is in a range from 1.2 to 2.0; and wherein the engine core length is in a range from 150 cm to 320 cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard G. STRETTON, Michael C. WILLMOT
  • Patent number: 11204037
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine core including an engine core, a turbine, a compressor, and a core shaft connecting the turbine to the compressor, the turbine comprising a lowest pressure rotor stage, the turbine having a turbine diameter at the lowest pressure rotor stage. A fan located upstream of the engine core, the fan comprising a plurality of fan blades extending from a hub, the hub and fan blades together defining a fan face having a fan face area and a fan tip radius. A ratio of the fan tip radius to the turbine diameter at the lowest pressure rotor stage is in the range from 1.2 to 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard G Stretton, Michael C Willmot
  • Publication number: 20210301827
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine core including an engine core, a turbine, a compressor, and a core shaft connecting the turbine to the compressor, the turbine comprising a lowest pressure rotor stage, the turbine having a turbine diameter at the lowest pressure rotor stage. A fan located upstream of the engine core, the fan comprising a plurality of fan blades extending from a hub, the hub and fan blades together defining a fan face having a fan face area and a fan tip radius. A ratio of the fan tip radius to the turbine diameter at the lowest pressure rotor stage is in the range from 1.2 to 2.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard G. STRETTON, Michael C. WILLMOT
  • Patent number: 11053947
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine core including a turbine, compressor, and core shaft connecting turbine to compressor; a fan located upstream of the engine core and including a plurality of fan blades each having a leading and trailing edge. The turbine includes a lowest pressure turbine stage having a row of rotor blades, each rotor blades extending radially and having a leading and trailing edge. The engine has a fan tip axis that joins a radially outer tip of the leading edge of a fan blade and the radially outer tip of the trailing edge of a rotor blade of the lowest pressure stage. The fan tip axis lies in a longitudinal plane which contains a centreline of engine. A fan axis angle is defined as the angle between fan tip axis and centreline, and is in a range between 10 and 20 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard G Stretton, Michael C Willmot
  • Publication number: 20210164478
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine core including a turbine, compressor, and core shaft connecting turbine to compressor; a fan located upstream of the engine core and including a plurality of fan blades each having a leading and trailing edge. The turbine includes a lowest pressure turbine stage having a row of rotor blades, each rotor blades extending radially and having a leading and trailing edge. The engine has a fan tip axis that joins a radially outer tip of the leading edge of a fan blade and the radially outer tip of the trailing edge of a rotor blade of the lowest pressure stage. The fan tip axis lies in a longitudinal plane which contains a centreline of engine. A fan axis angle is defined as the angle between fan tip axis and centreline, and is in a range between 10 and 20 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard G. STRETTON, Michael C. WILLMOT
  • Publication number: 20210164417
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft including: engine core including a turbine; and fan including a plurality of fan blades extending radially from a hub, each fan blade having a leading and trailing edge. Turbine includes a lowest pressure turbine stage having a row of rotor blades each extending radially and having a leading and trailing edge. A fan-turbine radius difference is measured as radial distance between: a point on a circle swept by a radially outer tip of the trailing edge of each of the rotor blades of the lowest pressure stage of the turbine; and a point on a circle swept by a radially outer tip of the leading edge of each of fan blades; and a fan speed to fan-turbine radius ratio defined as: the ? ? maximum ? ? take - off ? ? rotational ? ? speed ? ? of ? ? the ? ? fan fan - turbine ? ? radius ? ? difference ? ? ( 120 ) is in a range between 0.8 rpm/mm to 5 rpm/mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Richard G STRETTON, Michael C WILLMOT
  • Publication number: 20210148306
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft including: engine core including a turbine; and fan including a plurality of fan blades extending radially from a hub, each fan blade having a leading and trailing edge. Turbine includes a lowest pressure turbine stage having a row of rotor blades each extending radially and having a leading and trailing edge. A fan-turbine radius difference is measured as radial distance between: a point on a circle swept by a radially outer tip of the trailing edge of each of the rotor blades of the lowest pressure stage of the turbine; and a point on a circle swept by a radially outer tip of the leading edge of each of fan blades; and a fan speed to fan-turbine radius ratio defined as: the ? ? maximum ? ? take ? - ? off ? ? rotational ? ? speed ? ? of ? ? the ? ? fan fan ? - ? turbine ? ? radius ? ? difference ? ? ( 120 ) is in a range between 0.8 rpm/mm to 5 rpm/mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard G. STRETTON, Michael C WILLMOT
  • Patent number: 10981663
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine of an aircraft includes: an engine core having a turbine including a lowest pressure rotor stage, a turbine diameter, a fan including a plurality of fan blades extending from a hub, an annular fan face at a leading edge of the fan defining a fan tip radius at the fan face; wherein a downstream blockage ratio is defined as: the ? ? turbine ? ? diameter ? ? at ? ? an ? ? axial ? ? location of ? ? the ? ? lowest ? ? pressure ? ? rotor ? ? stage a ? ? distance ? ? f ? rom ? ? a ? ? ground ? ? plane ? ? to ? ? the ? ? wing ? and wherein an engine blockage ratio of: ( 2 × the fan tip radius/the engine length ) the ? ? downstream ? ? blockage ? ? ratio is in the range from 2.5 to 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Richard G Stretton, Michael C Willmot
  • Patent number: 10882633
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine of an aircraft includes: an engine core having a turbine including a lowest pressure rotor stage, a turbine diameter, a fan including a plurality of fan blades extending from a hub, an annular fan face at a leading edge of the fan; wherein a downstream blockage ratio of: the ? ? turbine ? ? diameter ? ? at ? ? an ? ? axial location ? ? of ? ? the ? ? lowest ? ? pressure ? ? rotor ? ? stage a ? ? distance ? ? from ? ? a ? ? ground ? ? plane ? ? to ? ? the ? ? wing is in the range from 0.2 to 0.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard G. Stretton, Michael C. Willmot
  • Publication number: 20200408170
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft including: engine core including a turbine; and fan including a plurality of fan blades extending radially from a hub, each fan blade having a leading and trailing edge. Turbine includes a lowest pressure turbine stage having a row of rotor blades each extending radially and having a leading and trailing edge. A fan-turbine radius difference is measured as radial distance between: a point on a circle swept by a radially outer tip of the trailing edge of each of the rotor blades of the lowest pressure stage of the turbine; and a point on a circle swept by a radially outer tip of the leading edge of each of fan blades; and a fan speed to fan-turbine radius ratio defined as: the ? ? maximum ? ? take ? - ? off ? ? rotational ? ? speed ? ? of ? ? the ? ? fan fan ? - ? turbine ? ? radius ? ? difference is in a range between 0.8 rpm/mm to 5 rpm/mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Richard G STRETTON, Michael C WILLMOT
  • Publication number: 20200346779
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine of an aircraft includes: an engine core having a turbine including a lowest pressure rotor stage, a turbine diameter, a fan including a plurality of fan blades extending from a hub, an annular fan face at a leading edge of the fan; wherein a downstream blockage ratio is: the ? ? turbine ? ? diameter ? ? at ? ? an ? ? axial ? ? location of ? ? the ? ? lowest ? ? pressure ? ? rotor ? ? stage ground ? ? plane ? ? to ? ? wing ? ? distance and a quasi-non-dimensional mass flow rate Q defined as: Q = W ? T ? 0 P ? ? 0 · A flow where: W is mass flow rate through the fan in Kg/s; T0 is average stagnation temperature of the air at the fan face in Kelvin; P0 is average stagnation pressure of the air at the fan face in Pa; and Aflow is the flow area of the fan face in m2, and wherein a Q ratio of: the downstream blockage ratio×Q is in a range from 0.005 to 0.01.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Richard G. Stretton, Michael C. Willmot
  • Publication number: 20200347848
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine core including a turbine, compressor, and core shaft connecting turbine to compressor; a fan located upstream of the engine core and including a plurality of fan blades each having a leading and trailing edge. The turbine includes a lowest pressure turbine stage having a row of rotor blades, each rotor blades extending radially and having a leading and trailing edge. The engine has a fan tip axis that joins a radially outer tip of the leading edge of a fan blade and the radially outer tip of the trailing edge of a rotor blade of the lowest pressure stage. The fan tip axis lies in a longitudinal plane which contains a centreline of engine. A fan axis angle is defined as the angle between fan tip axis and centreline, and is in a range between 10 and 20 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard G. STRETTON, Michael C. WILLMOT
  • Publication number: 20200347803
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft including: engine core including a turbine; and fan including a plurality of fan blades extending radially from a hub, each fan blade having a leading and trailing edge. Turbine includes a lowest pressure turbine stage having a row of rotor blades each extending radially and having a leading and trailing edge. A fan-turbine radius difference is measured as radial distance between: a point on a circle swept by a radially outer tip of the trailing edge of each of the rotor blades of the lowest pressure stage of the turbine; and a point on a circle swept by a radially outer tip of the leading edge of each of fan blades; and a fan speed to fan-turbine radius ratio defined as: the ? ? maximum ? ? take ? - ? off ? ? rotational ? ? speed ? ? of ? ? the ? ? fan fan ? - ? turbine ? ? radius ? ? difference ? ? ( 120 ) is in a range between 0.8 rpm/mm to 5 rpm/mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard G. STRETTON, Michael C. WILLMOT
  • Patent number: 10760530
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft including: engine core including a turbine; and fan including a plurality of fan blades extending radially from a hub, each fan blade having a leading and trailing edge. Turbine includes a lowest pressure turbine stage having a row of rotor blades each extending radially and having a leading and trailing edge. A fan-turbine radius difference is measured as radial distance between: a point on a circle swept by a radially outer tip of the trailing edge of each of the rotor blades of the lowest pressure stage of the turbine; and a point on a circle swept by a radially outer tip of the leading edge of each of fan blades; and a fan speed to fan-turbine radius ratio defined as: the ? ? maximum ? ? take ? - ? off ? ? rotational ? ? speed ? ? of ? ? the ? ? fan fan ? - ? turbine ? ? radius ? ? difference ? ? ( 120 ) is in a range between 0.8 rpm/mm to 5 rpm/mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard G Stretton, Michael C Willmot
  • Publication number: 20200248699
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine core including a turbine, compressor, and core shaft connecting turbine to compressor; a fan located upstream of the engine core and including a plurality of fan blades each having a leading and trailing edge. The turbine includes a lowest pressure turbine stage having a row of rotor blades, each rotor blades extending radially and having a leading and trailing edge. The engine has a fan tip axis that joins a radially outer tip of the leading edge of a fan blade and the radially outer tip of the trailing edge of a rotor blade of the lowest pressure stage. The fan tip axis lies in a longitudinal plane which contains a centreline of engine. A fan axis angle is defined as the angle between fan tip axis and centreline, and is in a range between 10 and 20 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard G. STRETTON, Michael C. WILLMOT
  • Publication number: 20200200080
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine core including a turbine, a compressor, a core shaft, and a core exhaust nozzle, the core exhaust nozzle having a core exhaust nozzle pressure ratio calculated using total pressure at the core nozzle exit; a fan including a plurality of fan blades; and a nacelle surrounding the fan and the engine core and defining a bypass duct, the bypass duct including a bypass exhaust nozzle, the bypass exhaust nozzle having a bypass exhaust nozzle pressure ratio calculated using total pressure at the bypass nozzle exit; wherein a bypass to core ratio of: bypass ? ? exhaust ? ? nozzle ? ? pressure ? ? ratio core ? ? exhaust ? ? nozzle ? ? pressure ? ? ratio is configured to be in the range from 1.1 to 2.0 under aircraft cruise conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard G. STRETTON, Michael C. WILLMOT, Nicholas GRECH